Top Ten Mistakes in Academic Writing

Following are the top ten mistakes I see over and over again in academic writing (college
writing). I suggest you print this list off to go over in your revisions.

10. Announcing what you are going to do in the essay.

Example: In this essay, I will discuss how Hemingway’s personal life is directly reflected in his
short stories.

There is no need to announce what you are going to do. The writer oftentimes mistakes an
announcement for a thesis statement—these are not the same thing. A revision of the above
announcement to turn it into a thesis statement might be: Hemingway’s personal life is directly
reflected in his short stories.

9. Using Phrases Like “I Think” or “I Feel” or “In My Opinion”

Except in cases where you are personally an expert on the topic, do not use I think, I feel, I
believe, or in my opinion. Even in cases where you are an expert, think twice before using these
phrases. First, because your name is on the paper, we know that you think, feel, or believe this.
Second, starting a sentence with "I" or including such a phrase in the middle of a sentence, takes
the focus off the topic and puts it on you as the writer. You want to keep the reader's eye firmly
on the topic, not on you as a writer. Finally, when you delete these phrases, you will find that
your sentences are more powerful without them.

8. Using The Incorrect Word

Words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings are called homonyms.
Examples of homonyms are their/there/they’re, to/too/two, your/you’re. Make sure you are using
the correct word. Your spellchecker won’t catch these.

7. Faulty Pronoun Agreement

This happens when your pronoun doesn’t agree in number with the noun it refers to. Example: A
person is entitled to a fair trial, but their economic standing often dictates the outcome. Here, “a
person” is singular, but “their” is plural. Remember, all singular nouns must have singular
pronouns, and all plural nouns must have plural pronouns. Correct: A person is entitled to a fair
trial, but his/her economic standing often dictates the outcome. OR People are entitled to a fair
trial, but their economic standing often dictates the outcome.

6. Comma Splices and Fused Sentences (both called “run-ons”)

A comma splice happens when there is just a comma between two independent clauses (clauses
that can stand alone as sentences): I walked home, my brother rode his bike. A fused sentence
happens when there is no punctuation between independent clauses: I walked home my brother
rode his bike. There are several ways to fix both of these: 1. Place a coordinating conjunction
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) after the comma: I walked home, but my brother rode his bike. 2.
Substitute a period for the comma to make two separate sentences: I walked home. My brother
rode his bike. 3. Substitute a semicolon for the comma to make two separate sentences: I walked
home; my brother rode his bike.

Remember, if you use the sentence structure independent clause-coordinating conjunction-

independent clause, there MUST be a comma after the first independent clause and before the
coordinating conjunction: I walked home, but my brother rode his bike.

5. Incorrect Punctuation With Quotation Marks

Generally speaking, punctuation goes inside quotation marks: I just read “A Rose for Emily.” In
“A Rose for Emily,” the narrator is the spokesperson for the town. Though Gina “didn’t ask,” I
took care of it for her anyway.

One exception to this rule is if the sentence itself is a question: Have you read “A Rose for
Emily”? There are other exceptions, but these are the basics.

4. Does Not Follow Thesis

Everything in your essay must directly correspond with your thesis statement. If you have
information in your essay that does not directly correspond with your thesis statement, you must
remove it or revise the thesis to include it. Take each paragraph (or point) and test it against your
thesis. If there is not a clear, direct correlation, either the paragraph goes, or the thesis changes.

This is true for short answers, too, such as Message Board posts. Everything must directly
respond to your main idea.

3. Incorrect Format

All projects submitted in all courses must follow the standard manuscript format to the letter. Pay
attention to the correct formatting for title pages, running heads, body pages, and reference
pages, including margins, font type and size, and proper paragraphing.

2. Writing in the Second Person “You”

With rare exceptions, "you" is not generally accepted in academic writing. Most often it is
illogical. For example, if an essay is discussing overcrowding of prisons or if the essay is about
problems parents face, using "you" implies that your reader is a prison inmate or a parent. Such
assumptions are unwise--and unacceptable. "You" is an all-purpose, general pronoun we use in
spoken language, and it does not transfer well to professional writing. Always look for the most
precise wording and avoid "you" completely. In the examples here, instead of using "you," the
writer could use "criminals," "convicts," "inmates," or "parents," "families," "community
leaders."
And the Number One Mistake I See In Academic Writing Is:

1. Not Following The Assignment

It is extremely important that you answer what your assignment is asking of you in any writing
situation. Read the assignment thoroughly, printing it out if necessary. Refer back to the
assignment as you write, and when you have finished your essay, re-read the assignment
directions to be sure you have followed every detail.